The Working Class and the Sitcom: ROSEANNE

1988-1997

Roseanne is the story of the Connor family, an Illinois working-class family struggling to stay together. The household was dominated by Roseanne, the lead character, who was married to Dan and had three children, Becky, Darlene, and D.J. Later in the series life, Roseanne has a fourth child named Jerry.The sitcom is one of the first to show a working-class family where both the husband and wife work outside the home to bring in income. The show displayed real life situations such as economic struggle, teen pregnancy, alcohol abuse, race, obesity, and much more (IMdb). "There have been plenty of comedies over the decades where all involved always had whatever they needed, but sitcom history is also littered with the flipside, series like The Honeymooners, All In The Family, and Roseanne, where it was never clear whether the family would make it to the next paycheck" (VadDerWerff).

The house is far from glamorous, with a simple living room and kitchen. The lighting is somewhat dark and dreary with the cast hardly seen wearing fancy clothing.

Unlike other shows depicting the working-class, what sets Roseanne a part is that the wife holds a number of jobs to help with the economic situation of the family. Throughout the seasons she was employed at "a plastic factory, a fast-food restaurant, a receptionist, a bar tender, a telephone salesperson, and in a beauty parlor" all while her husband tried to keep his bike shop afloat (Lee 92). This is one of the only shows where the families monetary situation actually worsens up until the family wins the lottery at the end of the series.

Roseanne is the last great and honest depiction of the working-class seen in sitcoms.

The clip below is a clip of Dan and Roseanne expressing their disdain toward paying bills with Dan's $500.00 advance check. It brings to reality what little ependable money they have.